Lexar NM790 1TB NVMe Gen4

Lexar NM790 1TB - The Underdog Gen4 That Benchmarks Like a Premium Drive

I had low expectations for the NM790 when I first came across it. Lexar isn't a brand Indian PC builders talk about the way they talk about Samsung or Western Digital. But the benchmarks changed my view.

The NM790 1TB uses a Maxio MAP1602 controller with TLC NAND and an onboard DRAM cache - a combination that typically appears only in mid-to-premium drives. At its price point, this architecture is unusual. It's why the NM790 punches above its weight class.

TLC + DRAM: Why This Combination Matters at 1TB

In Gen4 budget SSDs, you almost always get one of two compromises: QLC NAND (cheaper, lower endurance, worse sustained writes) or DRAMless design (lower random I/O, higher CPU overhead). The NM790 1TB avoids both.

TLC NAND means the drive sustains write performance better after the SLC cache fills - native TLC speeds are 800–1,200 MB/s, compared to 200–400 MB/s for QLC. The dedicated DRAM cache improves random I/O and reduces latency - important for OS responsiveness, application load times, and small file operations.

Sequential speeds are 7,400 MB/s read and 6,500 MB/s write - within striking distance of the Samsung 990 Pro 1TB (7,450/6,900 MB/s). In head-to-head benchmarks by Tom's Hardware, the NM790 trades blows with the 990 EVO across most workloads.

India Pricing - Value That's Hard to Beat

At ₹4,500–7,000, the NM790 1TB offers TLC+DRAM Gen4 performance in the same price bracket as QLC DRAMless alternatives. MDComputers and Amazon India are the most reliable sources; PrimeABGB and Vedant Computers also stock it. Availability has improved steadily - in 2023 it was hard to find in India; in 2025 it's a regular catalogue item.

Compare: Kingston NV3 1TB (QLC DRAMless) at ₹4,000–6,000 - the NM790 often costs only ₹500–1,500 more for a fundamentally better drive. Samsung 990 EVO 1TB at ₹6,000–9,000 - the NM790 frequently undercuts it while matching it in sequential performance. That's a compelling proposition.

Five-year warranty. Lexar handles warranty through Amazon India and its service network.

Who Should Buy This

Buy the NM790 1TB if you want the best price-to-performance Gen4 SSD at 1TB in India. It's the right pick for mid-range gaming builds, content creation setups on a budget, and anyone who wants TLC NAND reliability without paying Samsung premium prices. The DRAM cache makes a real difference in mixed workloads.

Skip it if you're on an absolute minimum budget and the Kingston NV3 1TB is ₹1,000+ cheaper - for gaming only, the NV3 is fine. Also skip for 2TB needs - the NM790 2TB is harder to find in India; the Crucial T500 2TB is more widely available.